UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

FAZLYZAN BINTI ABDULLAH

FPAS 2012 9

QUANTIFICATION OF CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN UNLOGGED LOWLAND DIPTEROCARP FOREST, SEMENYIH,

MALAYSIA USING CO2FIX V3.1 MODEL

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QUANTIFICATION OF CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN UNLOGGED

LOWLAND DIPTEROCARP FOREST, SEMENYIH,

MALAYSIA USING CO2FIX V3.1 MODEL

By

FAZLYZAN BINTI ABDULLAH

Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science

April 2012

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Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science

QUANTIFICATION OF CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN UNLOGGED LOWLAND DIPTEROCARP FOREST, SEMENYIH,

MALAYSIA USING CO2FIX V3.1 MODEL

By

FAZLYZAN BINTI ABDULLAH

April 2012

Chairman: Associate Professor Ahmad Makmom Abdullah, PhD

Faculty: Faculty of Environmental Studies

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of greenhouse gasses (GHG’s) that cause of

global warming and climate change. Carbon sequestration through forestry

sector is one of mechanisms in removal of CO2 from the atmosphere with the

least cost. Therefore, 1 ha plot was established at Sungai Lalang Forest

Reserve, Semenyih, Selangor to quantify carbon sequestration in an unlogged

forest using inventory methods, allometric equations and modeling. CO2FIX

V3.1 Model was used because it suitable for tropical forest, user friendly and

required less data. Besides, litter fall study and litter bag experiment was

conducted to determine litter fall for estimate carbon flow from plant to soil

pool and determine decomposition rate of leaf litter. Results from simulation

model CO2FIX showed carbon stocks in 1 ha study plot at Sungai Lalang

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Forest Reserve were decreased from year 1 of simulation period (522.04 Mg

C/ha) to year 100 (229.98 Mg C/ha). Meanwhile, results from calculation

using allometric equation for year 2007 to 2008 showed carbon stocks were

increased from 564.38 Mg C/ha to 592.25 Mg C/ha and decreased to 501.43

Mg C/ha for year 2009. This study concluded that carbon stock in Sungai

Lalang Forest Reserve was in steady state of a mature forest because

simulation results of CO2FIX showed after a few years total carbon increase,

then it suddenly drops and maintain. This study also found that litter fall

and decomposition process play an important role in carbon flow from plant

to soil which representing one of the major pathways of nutrient cycling.

Results of litter bag experiment showed leaves decomposed from fastest to

slowest, in the following order: Diospyros sumatrana Miq > Elateriospermum

tapos Blume > Macaranga triloba (Blume) Müll.Arg. All leaf types examined

were decomposed significantly different each other depends on litter quality

such as Carbon/Nitrogen ratio and Nitrogen. This study also discovered that

carbon potential was influenced by species composition, tree density, and

growth characteristics of tree. Therefore, strategies for carbon mitigation plan

of forestry options can be planned through the knowledge gained from these

findings. Species with high carbon stocks values are suggest to be selected

for afforestation and reforestation activities to enhance the carbon potential

of forest.

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Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Master Sains

PENGUKURAN PEMENCILAN KARBON DALAM HUTAN PAMAH DIPTEROKARPA YANG BELUM DITEBANG, SEMENYIH,

MALAYSIA MENGGUNAKAN MODEL CO2FIX V3.1

Oleh

FAZLYZAN BINTI ABDULLAH

April 2012

Pengerusi: Profesor Madya Ahmad Makmom Abdullah, PhD

Fakulti: Fakulti Pengajian Alam Sekitar

Karbon dioksida (CO2) adalah satu daripada gas rumah hijau yang

menyumbang kepada pemanasan global dan perubahan iklim. Pemencilan

karbon melalui sektor perhutanan merupakan salah satu mekanisma untuk

menyingkirkan CO2 dari atmosfera dengan kos yang rendah. Oleh itu, 1

hektar plot telah dibina di Hutan Simpan Sungai Lalang, Semenyih untuk

mengukur pemencilan karbon dalam hutan yang belum ditebang dengan

menggunakan kaedah inventori, persamaan alometrik dan pemodelan.

Model CO2FIX V3.1 digunakan kerana ia sesuai untuk hutan tropika, mudah

diaplikasikan dan kurang data diperlukan. Selain itu, kajian luruhan sarap

dan eksperimen beg sarap daun dijalankan untuk menentukan luruhan

sarap bagi anggaran aliran karbon daripada tumbuhan ke takungan tanah

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dan menentukan kadar penguraian sarap daun. Keputusan simulasi model

CO2FIX menunjukkan simpanan karbon dalam 1 hektar plot kajian di Hutan

Simpan Sungai Lalang menyusut dari tahun pertama simulasi (522.04 Mg

C/ha) hingga tahun ke 100 (299.98 Mg C/ha). Sementara itu, keputusan

pengiraan persamaan alometrik pada tahun 2007 hingga 2008 menunjukkan

simpanan karbon meningkat dari 564.38 Mg C/ha kepada 592.25 Mg C/ha

dan susut kepada 501.43 Mg C/ha pada tahun 2009. Kajian ini merumuskan

bahawa simpanan karbon dalam Hutan Simpan Sungai Lalang berada dalam

keadaan seimbang untuk hutan matang kerana hasil simulasi model CO2FIX

menunjukkan selepas beberapa tahun jumlah simpanan karbon meningkat,

ia menyusut secara mendadak dan kemudian stabil. Kajian ini juga

mendapati bahawa luruhan sarap dan proses penguraian memainkan

peranan penting dalam aliran karbon daripada tumbuhan ke takungan tanah

dalam kitaran nutrien. Keputusan eksperimen sarap daun menunjukkan

daun mengurai dari paling cepat ke perlahan, dalam susunan berikut:

Diospyros sumatrana Miq > Elateriospermum tapos Blume > Macaranga triloba

(Blume) Müll.Arg. Kesemua jenis daun berbeza penguraiannya bergantung

kepada kualiti sarap seperti nisbah karbon/nitrogen dan nitrogen.

Penemuan kajian ini juga mendapati bahawa potensi karbon dipengaruhi

oleh komposisi spesies, ketumpatan pokok dan ciri-ciri pertumbuhan pokok.

Oleh itu, strategi pengurangan karbon menggunakan sektor perhutanan

boleh dirancang dengan mengunakan pengetahuan daripada hasil kajian ini.

Spesies yang bernilai untuk menyimpan karbon yang tinggi dicadangkan

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untuk aktiviti perhutanan dan penghutanan semula bagi meningkatkan

potensi karbon dalam hutan.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Praise to ALLAH the Almighty God that has given me opportunity, strength,

and courage to complete this master thesis.

I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor, Assoc. Prof. Dr.

Ahmad Makmom Abdullah, my co-supervisor Dato’ Abdul Rashid Mat

Amin for their wise advice and guidance through steps by steps showing the

path to achieve the objective of the study. This appreciation also goes to all

the lecturers in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forestry,

staffs in Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, Forestry Department

of Selangor, Forest Research Institute Malaysia and also for supporting staffs

of the faculty who contribute in completing this project research.

Special thanks to Mr Kamarudin Salleh from Forest Research Institute

Malaysia and Mr Saad Nyan from Faculty of Forestry for their guidance and

patience in teaching me to identify tree species and tree mapping. I also

would like to express my truly thanks to my beloved mother, Minah Semail,

my supportive father, Abdullah Sulaiman and my siblings, Fazlyani,

Fazlyati, Mohd. Firdaus, Fazelah and Firman Hidayat for giving me

continuous love and strengthen my spirits.

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Last but not least, this appreciation to my helpful colleagues Johnny, Ilyana,

Liyana, Hakim, Aishah, Liza, Armi, Fadhli, mimi, noli and to all who give

me guardian and support during my study. Thanks for being with me all this

time.

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I certify that a Thesis Examination Committee has met on 4 April 2012 to conduct

the final examination of Fazlyzan binti Abdullah on her thesis entitled

"Quantification of Carbon Sequestration in Unlogged Lowland Dipterocarp Forest,

Semenyih, Malaysia using CO2FIX V3.1 Model" in accordance with the Universities

and University Colleges Act 1971 and the Constitution of the Universiti Putra

Malaysia [P.U.(A) 106] 15 March 1998. The Committee recommends that the student

be awarded the Master of Science.

Members of the Thesis Examination Committee were as follows:

Mohammad Firuz bin Ramli, PhD

Associate Professor

Faculty of Environmental Studies

Universiti Putra Malaysia

(Chairman)

Ahmad Ainuddin bin Nuruddin, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Forestry Universiti Putra Malaysia (Internal Examiner)

Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria, PhD Professor Faculty of Environmental Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia (Internal Examiner)

Abdul Latiff Mohamad, PhD

Professor Emeritus Dato’

Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

(External Examiner)

SEOW HENG FONG, PhD Professor and Deputy Dean School of Graduate Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date: 27 September 2012

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This thesis was submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia and has been accepted as fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science. The members of the Supervisory Committee were as follows:

Ahmad Makmom Abdullah, PhD Asscociate Professor Faculty of Environmental Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia (Chairman)

Abdul Rashid Mat Amin Adjunct Professor Faculty of Environmental Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member)

__________________________ BUJANG BIN KIM HUAT, PhD Professor and Dean School of Graduate Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia Date:

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DECLARATION

I declare that the thesis is my original work except for quotations and

citations which have been duly acknowledge. I also declare that it has not

been previously, and is not concurrently, submitted for any other degree at

Universiti Putra Malaysia or at any other institution.

______________________________

FAZLYZAN BINTI ABDULLAH Date: 4th April 2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ABSTRACT ii ABSTRAK iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vii APPROVAL ix DECLARATION xi LIST OF TABLES xv LIST OF FIGURES xvi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xviii

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background information of research 1

1.2 Research Framework 5 1.3 Carbon modeling approach 7 1.4 Model description 8

1.4.1 Estimation of carbon in living biomass 8 1.4.2 Interaction between cohorts (competition) 11 1.4.3 Mortality 12 1.4.4 Turnover 13 1.4.5 Estimation of Soil Carbon 14

1.5 Problem statement 17 1.6 Research objectives 19

1.7 Hypotheses 19 1.8 Significance of the study 19

1.9 Scope of the study 20 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Issues on Global Warming and Climate Change 21

2.2 Malaysia and international organization 22 2.3 Role of tropical forest: as a Carbon sources or sinks? 23 2.4 Overview of forest carbon stock measurements 26

2.4.1 Total Carbon in forest stand 27 2.4.2 Aboveground Biomass 28

2.4.3 Belowground Biomass 33 2.4.4 Litter 35 2.4.5 Soil 36

2.5 Options for enhancement and maintenance carbon sequestration 39

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2.5.1 Forest Management 40

2.5.2 Species Composition 46

3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 3.1 Site description 50 3.2 Research parameterization 53

3.2.1 Parameterization for simulation CO2FIX V3.1 Model 53

3.2.2 Parameters for biomass module 54 3.2.3 Parameters for soil module 55

3.3 Research procedure 56

3.3.1 Identifying Species 56 3.3.2 Tree measurement 57

3.3.3 Experimental design 57

3.3.4 Sampling methodology 59

3.3.5 Laboratory analysis for litter quality (chemical composition in litter; element of C, N and S 60

3.4 Data collection 63

3.4.1 Total aboveground biomass 63 3.4.2 Litterfall 64 3.4.3 Decomposition rate 65 3.4.4 Litter Quality 66

3.5 Data analysis 67

3.5.1 Modeling for Carbon sequestration 67 3.5.2 Validation 67 3.5.3 Statistical analysis 67

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Inventory data 68

4.1.1 Species composition 68 4.1.2 Tree measurement 82 4.1.3 Living tree biomass 84 4.1.4 Litter production 85

4.2 Simulation of CO2FIX V3.1 Model 90 4.3 Model Validation 93

5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Conclusion 95 5.2 Recommendations: 97

5.2.1 Best technique for forest measurement 97 5.2.2 Combination of several model to predict

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future carbon storage 98 5.2.3 Best forest management practices

towards sustainability 99 REFERENCES 100

APPENDICES 116

BIODATA OF STUDENT 188 LIST OF PUBLICATIONS 189